Bordeaux-Paris

History

The event was first run in 1891, and the Derby of the Road (as it was sometimes called) was particularly notable in that riders were 'paced' - allowed to slipstream behind team-mates mounted, in the early events, on tandem bicycles or other conventional cycles. From 1931, the pacing was provided by motorcycles or small pedal-assisted Dernys.

Related Topics:
1931 - Derny

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In the inaugural events, pacing was provided from Bordeaux. In later events, the pacing was introduced part-way towards Paris. From 1946 to 1985, more than half the race distance was paced, the Dernys being introduced at, for example, Poitiers or Chatellerault, roughly half-way through the race.

Related Topics:
Poitiers - Chatellerault

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The organisers of the inaugaral event, the Bordeaux Vélo Club, envisaged riders might take a few days to complete the race, but Englishman George Pilkington Mills raced through the night to win the 600km long event in just over a day. Another Englishman (Arthur Linton) won the event in 1896, but only one Englishman won the race in the modern era: Tom Simpson in May 1963. Other post-war winners included Louison Bobet (1959) and Jacques Anquetil (1965). The record for the most victories is held by Herman Van Springel who won seven times between 1970 and 1981.

Related Topics:
Englishman - 1896 - Tom Simpson - 1963 - Louison Bobet - 1959 - Jacques Anquetil - 1965 - Herman Van Springel - 1970 - 1981

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